Today is Jeff Oldham’s first day at Jackson Walker.
Roughly one month after adding former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht to its ranks, the firm has tapped Oldham to be the firmwide chair of its appellate section. Oldham had most recently been an appellate partner in Bracewell’s Houston office.
“It was a unique opportunity,” Oldham told The Texas Lawbook. “I was busy and productive at Bracewell and Jackson Walker approached me about the opportunity to head up their appellate group and to do so from Austin, and that was intriguing.”
In addition to getting to work from Austin, where he lives, Oldham said he was excited about the prospect of working with Hecht.
“It’s a huge plus for the firm and appellate group and I was very excited that he joined the firm,” Oldham said. “A big factor for me in my decision was that Jackson Walker has a proven track record of having a successful appellate group that’s now even stronger.”
Oldham clerked for the late U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2004 and before that served as a clerk for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
In 2005 and 2006 he served as counsel to the U.S. Attorney General before leaving to join Mayer Brown as an associate in its Supreme Court and appellate practice section.
He joined Bracewell in March 2008 and stayed there for more than 10 years before leaving for public service, taking a role as general counsel to the governor in July 2018. He held that post until November 2021 when he left to return to Bracewell.
C. Wade Cooper, Jackson Walker’s managing partner, said in a news release the firm is “thrilled” Oldham has joined the firm.
“Jeff’s credentials are second to none — he is recognized as one the top appellate lawyers in Texas and the nation,” he said. “His experience before the highest courts, his leadership in government and his commitment to excellence will be invaluable to our clients and our firm.”
Oldham said joining the appellate team at Jackson Walker “compliments his strengths,” including his extensive experience handling appeals at the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Chair of Jackson Walker’s trial and appellate litigation section, W. Ross Forbes Jr., praised Oldham’s “reputation as a brilliant advocate and strategic thinker” in a statement.
“He has handled some of the most significant appeals in recent years, and his insight will elevate our already outstanding appellate team,” Forbes said.
Oldham earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Tulsa in 2000 and is a 2003 graduate of the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.